Window actuating mechanism



y 1951 B. LEl RMONT EIAL 2,560,179

wmnow ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 5, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l IN ENTORSBASIL LERMONT BY LE6LIE R.BIRD6ALL w ww July 10, 1951 B. LERMONT ETALWINDOW ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 5, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORSBASIL LERMONT y LESLIE R.BIRD6ALL MA T Tom/5x:

y m, 1951 B. LERMONT ETAL WINDOW ACTUATING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Dec. 5, 1947 INVENTOR5 BASIL LERMONT BY LESLIE RBIRDJALL THE/A47702/1/575- J y 10, 1951 B. LERMONT ETAL 2,560,179

WINDOW ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed bee. 5, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V ENTORS BASIL LERMONT y LELlE RBIRDJALL W ATTORNEY! Patented July 10, 1951WINDOW ACTUATING MECHANISM Basilv Lermont, New York, and Leslie R.Birdsall,

Sloatsburg, N. Y., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Eastern MetalsResearch (30., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication December 5, 1947, Serial No. 789,906

9 Claims.

free rotation about an axis within the spring so.

that the spring may be uncoiled or unwound and straightened as the panelis moved to an Open position, thereby tensioning the spring and normallyurging the panel, to closed position. A braking member: is provided to.engage and maintain: the panel in an, open or partially open, position.Upon release of the braking, member, the. spring winds. up. due to. thetension thereof. and.

urges the panel. toward closed, position.

The above-described. panel control mechanism is.ver.y useful under manyconditions, but, even.

so,. it. hascertaindeficiencies. For example, in

order. to assure the closing. of. the panel or the moving of the panelto closed position, it. is necessary to. provide, a. spring.sufficiently powerful to assure the movement of the panel regardless ofthe friction between the. panel and its guide elements. Under humid, orcold conditions, thefriction may be relatively high, and, therefore, a.

rather powerfulspring is required to overcome friction. On the otherhand, under dry or warm.

conditions, they friction may be relatively low, and

the powerful. spring. therefore, will urge the panelvery quickly toclosed position, causing. it to slam as it reaches closed position-Another deficiency of thev prior. devicev for some purposes is that thebraking mechanism. engages the panel itself, and,. if. the panelis. aglass panel,

usechfor example, ina. vehicle door, the grit that. accumulates onv thepanel and on the braking member may cause the panel. to become scratchedafte prolonged use.

Another deficiency of the prior device. is that itis not particularlywell. adapted to use in vehicles whichlack guide channels for thewindowsabove the level of the door. Thus,,in convertible vehiclesandeven in some varieties of 4-door vehicles, there is no pillar betweenthe front and? rear doors, and the. glass panel or window is leftlargely unsupported when it is moved; toward closed position. The. pri rdevi e does not-include guide elements, and, therefore, it cannot beused in vehicles of the type referred to above.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved forms, ofwindow or panel actuating devices in which the deficiencies of the panelactuating device described above are largely overcome.

Another object, of the present invention is to providev a windowactuating mechanism for vehicles in which a positive locking of thewindow in any of its closed, open or partially open positions isobtained.

A further object of the invention is tov provide a window-actuatingmechanism in which slamming of the window as it moves to closed positionis overcome.

Other objects and advantages of the'invention will become apparent fromthe following description. of typical forms of window and panelactuating devices describedhereinafter.

In accordance with the present invention, window actuating devices areprovided which are based generally upon principles of operation similarto those disclosed in the Lermont application referred to above but inwhich. positive locks are provided for retaining the panel in any of itsadjusted positions. Moreover, in certain forms of the invention,dampening devices. are provided to prevent slamming of the panel orwindow as it moves to closed position. In addition, in the preferredforms of the device, the supporting mechanism for the panel is housedcompletely the edges of the window when it is in its projected.-

position.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may behad to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is aview in elevation of a typical formof window actuatingmechanism for use in ve.-- hicles embodying the present invention withparts. broken away and parts shown in section to disclose detailsthereof;

Fig-1a is a view in section taken on line lap-la,-v

of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a view inside elevation'of the mechanism disclosedin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 41s a view showingthe roller structure of the device;

Fig. 5- is a. view in side elevation showing av portion of. a modified,form of window actuating mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig.

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of a portion of a modified form of windowactuating mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7 with parts brokenaway to disclose details thereof;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a further modification of the window actuatingor panel control mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a view in elevation of the mechanism disclosed in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 ofthe drawings, this embodiment of the invention being particularly usefulfor supporting the windows of vehicles which lack guide channels atopposite edges of the windowopenings. Thedevice is particularly adaptedfor use, for example, in convertible coupes and sedans, which do nothave a center pillar extending from the top of the door to the top ofthe vehicle to guide and support the window panels of the two adjacentdoors of the vehicle. 7

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, a typical mechanism embodying thepresent invention may include a channel member H] which is adapted to besecured by means of the screws H and i2 tobosses struck out from thedoor panel |3 of a vehicle, these bosses being so arranged that thechannel |D extends substantially parallel with the intended direction ofmovement of the window panel. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the channel Iiihas edge flanges l4 and I5, the flange |4 extending generallyperpendicular to the base of the channel and having an inturned edge..The flange |5 also extends substantially perpendicular to the base ofthe chanand viliiwhich bear against the inner surfaces of theflanges. l4and I5 and thereby prevent rela tive rocking movement of the carriage55:3 in all directions. The upper end of the carriage is provided with aframe portion 24 which is bent upwardly and to theright, as viewed inFig. 2 joined. to the plate members 26 and 27 secured to the flanges ofthe channel l9. The members 26 and 21 are of generally annular formationand form journals 29 and 35 for receiving rotatably a tubular shaft orroller 3|. The upper edges of the flange members 29 and 5t! are joinedbymeans of a cross bar 32 which in turn is joined to the upwardly bentportion 24 to form a strong, rigid structure.

The shaft 3| is closed at is outer ends by means of disk-like capmembers 33 and 34 which are welded or otherwise secured to the oppositeends of the shaft 3|. Mounted upon the frame portion 24 and thecross-bar 32 are the channel members 35 and 36 which are adapted toreceive the lower edge of the window panel 31. The roller 3| isconnected to the inner ends of normally coiled spring members 38 and 38aof the type disclosed more particularly in the Lermont applicationsSerial Nos. 717,707 now Patent No. 2,543,785, and 747,189, nowabandoned. The spring members 38 and 38a are normally tightly coiled forthe reason that every increment of these springs is bent on the sameradius of curvature. However, inasmuch as all of the convolutions ofthis spring cannot occupy the same space, the various convolutions mustlie in a tightly coiled spiral form. These springs are secured at theirinner ends to the shaft 3| in any conventional way, such as for example,by riveting, welding or by means of screws.

The springs 38 and 38a are tensioned by exerting a force or stress onthe outer free ends of these springs. Such a stress tends to straightenout the springs and unwind them much like a strip of paper can beunwound from a freely rotating roll of paper. Inasmuch as the action ofthe stress is primarily at the point of tangency of the straightenedportion of the spring to the coiled remainderof the spring, and eachportion of the spring is equally bent, the stress required to straightenthe spring is substantially the same for any portion of the length ofthe spring and is non-accumulative.

If the stress tending to straighten and unroll the spring is relievedslightly, the spring will rewind itself on the shaft by rotating theshaft.

The upper ends of the springs 38 and 38a may be provided with hook-likemembers 35 for engagement in slots 48 in the upper end of the door panel3|. The structure described thus far normally urges the window 31 toclosed position but permits the window to be opened by pulling itdownwardly and thereby unrolling the springs 38 and 38a from the shaft3| to which the inner end of the spring is connected. In any loweredposition of partially lowered position of the window, the spring tendsto urge the window to closed position with a constant force.

In order to prevent the window from slamming as it moves to closedposition, the carriage |9 may be provided with a projecting pin 4| towhich is connected a lever 42 having a sliding pivot connection with apin 43 projecting. from the door panel l3 so that the lever rocks up anddown as the carriage l9 moves up and down the channel Ill. To cushionthe upward movement of the carriage, a dash pot mechanism 44 is providedwhich is supported on the door panel l3. The dash pct 44 consists of acylinder 45 which is supported by means of a bracket 46 and a pivot 41on the door panel |3 so that it can rock about the pivot to accommodateitself to the position of the lever 42. The cylinder 45 is provided witha piston 48 of any desired construction which is mounted on the end of apiston rod 49. The outer end 50 of the piston rod is pivotally connectedto the lever 42. The fit between the piston rod 49 and the reduced end5| of the cylinder may be such as to permit ready flow of air out of thecylinder so that downward movement of the link is not appreciablyretarded or resisted by the movement of the piston 48 in the cylinder.

The opposite end 52 of the cylinder 45 is provided with an air checkvalve 53 permitting air to be drawn into the cylinder as the pistonmoves downwardly so as to not appreciably retard or resist the movementof the piston. Movement of the piston in an upward direction is retardedby providing a small air passage 54 in the end 52 of the cylinder whichlimits the rate ofescape of air from between the piston and the upperend of the cylinder as the piston moves upwardly. The speed of upwardmovement'of the carriage I9 can be controlled by adjusting the size ofthe passage 54.

The device described is also provided with a locking mechanism andabraking mechanism for, regulating or adjusting the position oftheawindow; As best shown in Fig. 2, a lever or pawl.

the-carriage I9. The bell crank is normally urged in a clockwisedirection by means of a spring 60 having one end engaged in an aperturein the bell crank and the other end engaged beneath a lever member 62which is mounted at a right angle to the bell crank 58 on a bracket 63-extending laterally from the carriage I9 behind the channel member I0.The lever 62 forms a part of an element 64 which is pivotally supportedon a pivot member 65 on the bracket 63 and is provided with a pair ofoutwardly projecting lugs 66 and 61 in spaced apart relation near thelower end of the member 64. The lugs 66 and 61 cooperate with a linkmember I0 which is supported on a pair of lever members 'II and 12 whichare pivotally mounted in substantially parallel relationship on themember I0 so that when the link member is moved outwardly, or inwardly,it is maintained in substantially parallel relation with the channelmember I0. Such movement of the link I0 may be produced by means of arotary member M which has an eccentric pin 15 thereon supporting a linkI6 which is pivotally connected to the link I0. The disk or rotarymember I4 is mounted on the door panel and may be provided with a knobor handle exposed at the interior of the door so that it can be rotatedby an occupant of the vehicle.

The link member I0 is disposed between the lugs 66 and 61. so that whenthe link I0 is movedto the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, the lever 62 isrocked in a clockwise direction. When the link member I0 is moved to theright, it engages the lug 61 and thereby rocks the lever 62 in acounter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. This motion of thelever 62 is transmitted to the bell crank lever 58 (Fig. 2) and. movesthe lock pawl 55 into engagement with the rack I'I. When the lever 82 isrocked counter-clockwise or upwardly. the pawl 55 is disengaged. Whenthe lever 62 is rocked. in a clockwise direction or downwardly, the pawl55 is moved into engagement with the rack IT.

The lever 82 may be maintained in either of its adjusted positions bymeans of a spring member 11 which engages in notches I8 and I9 in thelower edge of the member 64.

Movement of the lever 02 is also utilized to actuate a friction brakingmember 80' which is mounted coaxially with the bell crank lever 58 andis provided with an eccentric surface BI that is engageable with thebottom'of the channel I0 when in its lowermost position. The brakingmember 80, as best shown in Fig. 3, has substantially parallelrearwardly projecting arms- 82 and 83 which rotatably receive the shaft84 on which the bell crank 58 is also mounted; Also, as shown in Fig. 3,the lever 52 is in a position to engage the lever and arm 82 of thebrake-member so-that when the arm 62 moves upwardly, the surface 8|" ofthe brake member is disengaged from the bottom of the channel. When thelever 62' moves The pawl downwardly, the brake member also moves 75- 6%downwardly to. engage-the surface 8Iv with: the: baseof the channel I01,thereby frictionally bringing the carriage'. Is. to a stop before the,pawlmember 55 engages the rack H.

The above-described mechanism, because of its structure, is capable ofsupportingv the glass panel during its movement between its open andclosed positions, and may be used readily in vehicles which do not haveguide channels toengage the edges of the panel during its upward anddownward movement. all of its operating mechanism concealed within thepanel and in such relationship to the panel or window that it will notunder any circumstances mar or damage the panel or the window. Moreover,the device assures proper and strong locking of the panel in any of itsadjusted positions and the presence of the dash'pot mech-- anismprevents slamming of the panel even when the friction in the mechanismis reduced to a minimum.

While the above-described embodiment is thepreferred form, it ispossible to modify the window or panel actuatingmeans considerably toconform to different types of door constructions,

one modified form of the device being disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6 of thedrawings. This form of the device includes a pair of spaced aparttubularelements and 9| which are provided with brackets 93 and 94 attheir upper and lower ends, only the upper brackets being disclosed. Thebrackets 93 and M are secured to the door panel 95 at the inside portionof the door by means of suitable bolts or screws 96 or the like. Thetubular members are provided with slots 91 and 98 on their opposingsides for receiving the laterally projecting brackets 99 and I00 at theopposite ends of the channel member IIiI which receives the lower edgeof the window panel. The flanges 99v and I00 are similar and essentiallyare mirror images of each other providing a pair of spaced apart armsI02 and I03 which extend through the slot 91, for example, into theinterior of the tubular member 90 so as to provide a guide for thewindow panel. The upper end of the arm I02 is provided with a pistonmember E04 which fits slidably-within the tubular member 90, and whenthe window receiving channel is in the position shown, that is,corresponding to the closed positionof the window, it is disposed withinthe upper end portion of the tubular member 90.

The slot 91 terminates at the upper edge of the arm I02 in the positionshown in Fig. 5, so that the piston member I04 is disposed within aclosed tubular portion at the upper end of the member 90. The upper endof the member 90 may be closed by means of a cap I05 so that when thepiston I04 moves into the upper end of the member 90,.it is cushioned bythe air within that portion to prevent slamming of the window. The lowerarm I03 of the bracket may also be providedwith a piston-like member forguiding the bracket 99 slidably in the tubular member 90. The bracketI00 is similarly constructed and cooperates in a similar way with thetubular guide member 9I Extending between the brackets 99 and Illi! is ashaft I06 to which is secured one end of the uniform tension spring I01of the type described above. The spring I07. is normally coiled around aroller I08 which is rotatably mounted in brackets I09 and H0 which aresecured to the panel 95 of the door; The spring thus tends'to urge thewindow panel upwardly toward closed position but can be unwound from theroller M0 The device also has by downward movement of the window panelby means of a handle secured to the window panel, not shown. In order toretain the window panel in any desired open or partially open condition,the brackets 99 and I are provided with friction brake members I I I andI I2 which are pivotally connected to the brackets 99 and I00 by meansof the pivot pins I I3 and I I4, respectively. The brake members I I Iand I I2 may be retracted out of engagement with the opposed surfaces ofthe tubular members 30 and 9| or moved into engagement with them bymeans of the link members H5 and H6 which are supported by means of thelinks III and H8, respectively, at their upper and lower ends. The linksH! and H8 are pivotally connected respectively to the brackets 95 and 96at the upper and lower ends of the tubular members 90 and 9|. The linksI I5 and H6 may be moved simultaneously inwardly and outwardly by meansof a rotary member I having eccentrically located pins I2I and I22thereon which are connected by means of the links I23 and I24 to thheupper ends of the links H5 and I I6, respectively.

Inward and outward movements of the links 5 and H3 are used to actuatethe brake elements III and H2 by engaging the laterally projecting pinsI25 and I26 thereon. Thus, as the links H5 and H6 are moved inwardly,the brake elements are rocked away from the tubular members 90 and 0|,and as the link members I I5 and H0 move outwardly, the brake members III and H2 are permitted to rock into engagement with the tubular membersSI and 92, thereby retaining the window panel in a desired position.

While the above-described mechanism does not include a positive lock forthe window, it will be understood that it can be modified to includelooking mechanism similar to that of the device disclosed in Figs. 1 to4 of the drawings.

The actuating mechanism is suspectible to still further modification, asdisclosed in Figs. '7 and 8 of the drawings. In this form of windowactuating mechanism, channel members I30 are provided adjacent oppositeedges of the glass window panel I3 I, only one of the channel membersbeing disclosed in the drawings for purposes of illustration. Eachchannel member I30 is secured to the door panel, not shown, in themanner described above. Each channel member I30 has a bottom portion I32which may be stamped or otherwise formed to provide a series of gear orrack teeth I33 extending lengthwise of the channel. The channel I30 isalso provided with laterally directed flanges I34 and I35 on oppositesides thereof.

The window glass I3I is mounted in a channel member I36 which isprovided near each end with a pair of brackets I 3! and I38 in spacedapart relationship which are disposed on opposite sides of the guidechamiel member I30. The brackets I31 and I38 are of L-shapedcross-section and have flanges I39 and I40 extending forwardly onopposite sides of the channel member I30. Each of the flanges I39 andI40 is provided with a pair of rotatably mounted rollers MI and I42which engage behind the flanges I34 and I35 on the channel member I30 toaid in retaining the panel in substantially parallel relation to thechannel member I30. The glass panel I3I isprevented from rocking in theopposite direction by means of a gear member I43 which is disposedbetween the flanges I39 and I40 in a position to engage the rack teethI33. If desired, other rollers similar to the rollers MI and I42 may beprovided to engage the sides of the flanges I34 and I35 opposite therollers I4I and I42. The gears I43 00- operating with each of thechannels I30 are connected by means of a cross shaft I44 which isjournalled in a bearing I45 in the flange I40 at each end so that thegears I43 rotate together. The shaft I44 is also rotatably received in atubular sleeve at one end of the uniform tension spring I40 which iscoiled upon a shaft or roll, not shown, the shaft being rotatablymounted in brackets, not shown, connected to the door panel.

Engagement of the gear I43 with the rack teeth I33 and engagement of therollers MI and I42 with the channel member prevents tilting of thewindow panel and its supporting carriage with respect to the door panel.

This form of window control mechanism is provided with a positive lookbut does not include a friction brake as in the mechanisms describedabove. The positive lock includes a pawl member I47 which is pivotallymounted on a pin I4'8 that projects inwardly from the bracket member I38and supports the pawl in a position to engage the rack teeth I33 belowthe gear I 43. The pawl M! can be rocked out of engagement with theteeth I33 by means of a link structure I49 like that described above,the link I49 engaging a laterally projecting pin I50 of the pawl I41when the link I49 is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 8. Suchmovement may be produced by means of a push-pull plunger I5I whichextends through the door panel into the interior of the car.

The pawl I Il may be locked against movement of engagement with the rackteeth I33 by means of a cam member I52 which is pivotally supported on apin I53 projecting from the bracket member I38. The cam may be rotatedby means of a plunger member I54 into and out of engagement with theupper surface of the pawl I47.

The above-described construction can be modifled, of course, to includea friction brake of any of the types described above and also it can beprovided with a dampening or dash pot arrangement of the type disclosedin Fig. l of the drawings.

All of the above-described forms of window actuating mechanisms areespecially adapted for use in the doors of vehicles which do not includeguide channels extending the length of the window opening, They are,however, useful in window constructions which do provide such guidechannels, and, therefore, should not be considered as being restrictedin their use to the guideless type of window construction.

In many other types of vehicles which include a Window guideconstruction in the upper part of the door, less complex types of windowactuating mechanisms may be used. An improved type of actuatingmechanism for such purposes is disclosed in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 of thedrawings.

This form of device includes a plate member I which is adapted to besecured to the inside panel of the door of the vehicle or othermechanism and is provided with a pair of outwardly projecting arms orbrackets I61 and I02. These brackets receive a shaft I63 which isprovided with a head IE4 at one end and a removable cross pin I65 at itsopposite end to permit it to be inserted lengthwise through the bracketsNH and IE2 and retain it therein. As shown in Fig. 10, the cross pinsupports a roller I66 which may be formed of wood or other desiredmaterial upon which the uniform tension sprin IE! is coiled with itsinner end fixed to the roller I66.

.like .pawl element A1112. .loosely supportedonashaft I13wthichiismounted The opposite send or the spring is provided ,:with

ment of a locking mechanism ;for locking a win- .dow :panel in an open,partially open Q1'. C1Q Sfid position. To this :end, the end plate .118,is .pro-

svide'diwith a plurality of peripheral notches "Z111 which vare adaptedto :receive the .end of a book- The pawl element is in Va :bushing I14fixed :to the platezltli so that ;the,shaft can motate in the bushing.ilhe rlflaw can move independently ;o f the -,-sh a;ft i553, and

:may be moved inwardlyiagainst .the,;-periphery of thexiisk-like brakeelement by-means of ,a,.spring :l 15 which cooperates ,withonearmyof an-shaped is disposed substantially parallel with theshaft.

I13 nd ext nds toward .i s inner "end s t at i can engage one {end I18,of the spring I15 upon "rotation in one d ect on t c u the en o th pawlH to enga e 51 of t e no hes J1 IJpon movement 9f the arm I11 in .theopposite direction, it engages the inner edge of the pawl 11. to k therawlsoutq en ag m n w t a he member I18, thereby releasing the -,rollI66 to permit the spring to coil up upon it.

The device is also provided with-atrictionlbraking mechanism which isadapted to engage the window panel. The friction braking mechanism-includes a lever member [80 having -a facing I8I of friction material.The lever I8i) is piv- =ota1ly supported on the shaft v1.63 ,between thebracket I61 and the end plate or disk -memb er 110. with another similarbrake member J82 at the opposite endof the shaft I63 by meansof a platemember I83 which extends between the spring ried on the shaft I63 andhaving legs Lbearing against the plate 1.68 andithe brake member 182.

, 1 0 The brake element I88 is .also connected Thus,-both of the brakemembers I88 and The brakes I88 and I82 may be moved outof engagementl-With the window panel by means of another oppositely directed .arm I86of the S- shaped rod 116. The arm I86 engages ,avshoulder I81 on thebrake member [88 sothat when the shaft I13 is rotated by means .of .aknob,

not shownpinsidethe vehicle, the .brakes I80 and I82 are retracted andalsothe' pawl I12 is retracted. When-the shaft I13 is rotated clockwise,as viewedimFig. 10, the brakes I88 and I82 engage the panel and the pawlI12 engages the locking member -I-10.

The shaft 113 may be maintained in either the -locked-'orunlocked'posi-tion by means "of a From the preceding descriptionof typicallem-:bOdimB HtSQf window actuating mechanisms f the type embodying thepresent invention, it will be understood that these mechanisms arecapable of operating a window or other panel member easily andpositively and they also pro- 75 10 vide positive l ck ng and braking toavoid damage to the window durin opening and plosins operations. Devicesof the type des ribed above are especiallys itable for actuating thewindows of v icles but they iarewialso adapt d t many oth r u s, suchas, slidinepanel constructions forfurniture, houses, boats and manyother purposes.

:Itwill be understood thateacn of the abovedeserihed m chanisms issusceptible to gfurther modification and @change .in dimensions andshape, ,as the purpose demands. Therefore, .the forms of the inventiondescribed aboveshpuld be consider ed; as illustrative and not aslimiting e-the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A,,p fi operat n mecha sm c mprisin mean for en a in edge of a p nel,a supp tin member adapted to be fix to gain element having opening to:be closed by said panel, a spirally :eoiled sprin member vha inguniform tension when uncoi1ed, aro1ler connected to the inner .end ofsaidieoiled spring member, means .rotatably supporting said roller on.one of saidpanelie g e nslh ndsaid sunporting member, ian rmeansponnectin the outer :end iofzsaid sprin to the other of .sai ipanellengain means and :said suppor in member, 1 whereby imovementiof saidlpaheliensaeinsim m ber relative to said suppor in memb r in on diretion ,unwinds .sai sprin pla in it unde t nsion to ;move said paneli nasins member in he op site direc on, paw and :r tehet means forretaining said ipanel sunpert n member in any of a plurality o p sitionsrelativ to .said --supportin membe nd-mean ife imahuallyi ieleasing saidh wk-a d ratche mean to r l as s i "p -s pport n means for movement. $2.enamel-op ratin m chan sm eem r sinsa fixed supporting and guideelement, a carria e for supporting ,a :closure panel movable along said.guide element, means restraining .zsaid :guide element and.carriageagainst arelative rocking movement, braking .meansmounted-.onsaid car.- -riage- :for movement into iandout of :engagement:with :said .guide element, manually operable means for moving saidbraking :means into and out-ofiengagement with said guide means, :a ro-'tary mernber, a spirally coiled spring wound on said rotary member andhaving its inner end connected-to saidrotary member, inembersup portingsaid rotary member for rotation about its axis, and means connectingsaid supporting *member 'in fixed relation 'to' said carriage, and theouter end "of-said spring in *fixed relation "to "said supporting andguide elements to "cause said spr g to u in ffr iisa d t r em e as saica i e i m ve in on d et e long s support n and gui e e em t said s ringwinding ,upon said rotary member ,as said ciarfi e moves in theoppositedirection a'long said supporting guide element.

3. A ,panel operating 1 mechanism comprising a fixedsupportingandguideelement a carriagelfor supporting a iclos ire panel movable along ,saidguide element with said guide element located ,substantially icentrallypie-said support, means ,lre- ;strainingesaidaguide element.andicarriage; against +relative rocking lmovement, :braking ,meansmeunt den aid earriae m mov men -h ianfl out of engagement with saidguide element, manually operable means for moving said braking meansinto and out of engagement with said guide means, a rotary member, aspirally coiled spring wound in a plurality of overlying convolutions onsaid rotary member and having its inner end connected to said rotarymember, a member supporting said rotary member for ro- Ltation about itsaxis, means connecting said supporting member in fixed relation to saidcarriage for movement therewith, and means connecting the outer end ofsaid spring in fixed relation to said guide element, whereby movement ofsaid carriage relative to said guide element in one direction unwindssaid spring from said rotary member and thereby tending to move saidcarriage in the opposite direction.

4. A panel operating mechanism comprising a fixed supporting and guideelement, a carriage for supporting a closure panel movable along :saidguide element, means restraining said guide element and carriage againstrelative rocking movement, a rack member fixed to said guide element andextending in the direction of movement of said carriage, a lock membermounted on said carriage for movement into and out of engagement withsaid rack member to lock said carriage to and release it from said guidemember, respectively, manually operable means for moving said lockingmeans, a rotary member, a spirally coiled spring wound in a plurality ofconvolutions on said rotary member and having its inner end connected tosaid rotary member, a member supporting said rotary member for rotationabout its axis, and means connecting said supporting member in fixedrelation to said carriage, and the outer end of said spring in fixedrelation to said guide member.

5. A panel operating mechanism comprising a channel member adapted to befixed to a structure having an opening to be closed, a carriage mountedon said channel member for movement longitudinally thereof, means onsaid carriage for 'receiving an edge of a closure panel, at least one.spirally coiled spring mounted on said carriage for rotation about itsaxis, a rack extending lengthwise of said channel member, a toothed pawlmember pivotally mounted on said carriage ,for movement into and out ofengagement with said rack, a link member extending lengthwise of saidchannel member, and mounted adjacent thereto for movement toward andaway from said channel member, means on said pawl member in the path ofmovement of said link memher for disengaging said pawl member from saidrack and engaging said pawl member and rack upon movement of said linkmember in opposite directions, means for moving said link member,

and means at the outer end of said spring for connecting it fixedly tosaid structure adjacent to said opening whereby movement of saidcarriage to uncover said opening unwinds said spring and places it.under tension urging said carriage in a direction to close saidopening.

6. A panel operating mechanism comprising a pair of spaced apart tubularguide members,

each having a slot therein terminating in spaced relation to adjacentends of said guide members .forming cylinders at said adjacent ends, acarriage for supporting a closure panel having end portions disposed in,guided by and movable along said slots, piston elements on said endportions movable into said cylinders to retard movement of said carriageas it approaches said adjacent ends of said guide members, spring meanscon- 12 nected'to saidcarriage for urging said carriage toward saidadjacent ends, and means on said carriage engageable with said guidemembers for retaining said carriage in any desired position along saidguide members. i

'7. A panel operating mechanism comprising a least one channel memberadapted to be fixed to a structure in spaced relation to an openingtherein, a carriage having a plurality of rollers engaging said channelmember to guide said carriage along said channel member, means on saidcarriage for receiving an edge of a closure panel for closing saidopening, a brake member pivotally mounted on said carriage for movementinto and out of engagement with said channel member, and normallyspirally coiled spring means connected to said carriage for urging thelatter toward said opening.

8. A panel operating mechanism comprising at least one channel memberadapted to be fixed to a structure in spaced relation to an openingtherein, a carriage having a plurality of rollers engaging said channelmember to guide said carriage along said channel member, means on saidcarriage for receiving an edge of a closure panel for closing saidopening, cooperating pawl and rack means on said channel member and saidcarriage for locking said carriage in any desired position along saidchannel member, means for releasing said pawl and rack means to permitmovement of said carriage along said channel member, and normallyspirally coiled spring means connected to said carriage for urging thelatter toward said opening.

9. A panel operating mechanism comprising a fixed supporting and guideelement, a carriage for supporting a closure panel movable along saidguide element, means restraining said guide element and carriage againstrelative rocking movement, braking means mounted on said carriage formovement into and out of engagement with said guide element, manuallyoperable means for moving said braking means into and out of engagementwith said guide means, a r0- tary member, a normally coiled spring woundon said rotary member and having its inner end connected to said rotarymember, a member supporting said rotary member for rotation about itsaxis, and means vconnecting said supporting member in fixed relation tosaidsupporting and guide element and the outer end of said spring infixed relation to said carriage to cause said spring to unwind from saidrotary member as said carriage is moved in one direction along saidguide element, said spring winding upon .said rotary member as saidcarriage moves in the opposite direction along said guide element.

BASIL LERMONT. LESLIE vR. BIRDSALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the UNITEDSTATES PATENTS VNumber Name Date 433,600 Marshall Aug. 5, 1890 620,468Lowery et al Feb. 28, 1899 652,394 Lagus June 26, 1900 2,076,938Chandler Apr. 13, 1937

